Lance Corporal Roy George Henry Beadman, TR/10/25635

  • Batt - 32
  • Unit - Training Reserve
  • Section -
  • Date of Birth - 1898
  • Died - 06/05/1917
  • Age - 19

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Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Beadman, a grocer’s warehouseman, born 1868 in Ravenstone, Leicestershire and his wife Augusta Amy Harding Beadman (nee Densham, married in the 4th quarter of 1893 in the Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire district), born 1868 in Coleford, Somerset. Roy George Henry, a schoolboy, was born in the 3rd quarter of 1898 in Godalming, Surrey, his siblings were Cecil Thomas, an apprentice engineering draughtsman, born in the 4th quarter of 1894 in East Grinstead, Sussex and Marguerite, a schoolgirl, born 1902, in Godalming, in April 1911 the family home was at 111, Forest Road, Hugglescote, Leicestershire. His brother Cecil also fell. Roy possessed all his elder brothers qualities and attributes and won a scholarship from the Church School to Coalville Grammar School, and in 1914 obtained employment as a clerk to Swadlincote branch of the London City and Midland Bank. Roy was nineteen when he was called up and enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment, he gained promotion to Lance Corporal, but in May 1917 complained of feeling unwell, following an examination by the Medical Officer, he was sent to hospital in southern England, dying shortly afterwards of cerebro spinal meningitis. His younger brother Cecil also fell. Other sources show his Battalion as the 1st Leicestershire Regiment.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday May 11th, 1917

News has been received in Hugglescote of the death of Lance-Corporal Roy G. H. Beadman, which has occurred in a hospital from cerebra-spinal meningitis. The young soldier, who was barely 19 years of age, and was in training in the South of England, was the son of Mr Thomas Beadman, formerly employed by the Coalville Co-Operative Society, and residing at Forest Road, Hugglescote, but who has now gone to live at Penge, South London. Mr Beadman had two sons and has now lost both. The elder, named Cecil, was killed in action a few months ago. He was a draughtsman employed at Messrs. Wootton Bros’ Engineering Works, Coalville. The younger brother who has just died in hospital, after leaving Coalville Grammar School, which he attended as a scholarship winner from the Hugglescote Church School, entered the London City and Midland Bank, and was engaged at the Swadlincote branch when he joined up.

Coalville Times article – Friday April 2nd, 1920

WAR MEMORIAL AT HUGGLESCOTE CHURCH

UNVEILED BY COL. R. E. MARTIN

A tablet which has been placed in Hugglescote Parish Church, to the memory of men from the parish who fell in the war, was unveiled by Lt.-Colonel R. E. Martin, C.M.G., on Saturday afternoon in the presence of a large congregation.

The tablet is of excellent design, in keeping with the handsome edifice, and is of a permanent character, the names of 101 men being inscribed on Swithland slate, set in a frame of Ketton stone, surmounted by a cross and crown encircled in a carved laurel wreath, with similar carvings on either side. The inscription runs as follows:

“Their name liveth for evermore.”

“To the Glory of God, and in imperishable memory of the men of the parish who fell in the great war, 1914 – 1918.”

The names of the men inscribed on the tablet are as follows:-

H. A. Attwood, C. T. Beadman, J. Brooks, W. Baker, J. E. Briggs, H. G. Blackham, J. T. Bishop, J. Barrs, G. Barrs, R. Beadman, E. Bonser, G. Beale, J. G. Bennett, E. S. Boot, W. Berrisford, F. J. Betteridge, F. P. Benistone, J. W. Cawley, F. Chamberlain, J. A. Crookes, R. A. Cross, L. Cross, J. Cox, P. Cliff, J. W. F. Collier, C. Drewett, H. B. Drewett, S. Dodds, A. Elkin, H. C. Elkin, J. Farn, H. Fletcher, H. Finch, L. Finch, G. Firban, G. Gadsby, A. Gamble, S. F. Gamble, W. Gray, W. O. Hoden, O. Hallam, B. Hatter, J. Haywood, W. Hill, F. Hill, J. E. Hibbert, G. Hart, G. H. Highfield, E. Harper, J. W. Harper, H. Hall, J. E. Holmes, J. Jones, W. Jones, F. J. Kirby, I. V. Kelham, H. Lewis, W. Lewis, W. Massey, H. O. Moseley, T. Marriott, G. Martin, J. A. Moult, J. Maunders, J. Moon, I. Mycroft, W. Newbold, O. H. Pratt, J. A. Pegg, F. Pink, E. H. Palmer, W. Riley, A. T. Richardson, W. Rogers, C. Simmons, E. A. Stinchcombe, J. Summers, S. Summers, C. Shilton, G. Slatter, J. Smith, J. C. Shaw, S. Smith, G. Spencer, S. C. Smith, J. W. Setchell, W. Statham, A. G. Tovell, S. T. Timson, J. Tebbatt, F. Whitmore, E. Willett, B. Walker, H. Watson, C. H. Walker, J. Woods, T. Willett, A. Wright, A. Wood, J. Young and W. Young.

As the congregation passed into the church, members of the Hugglescote Church Lads’ Brigade, with the ex-Sergt.-Major W. Hill in charge, lined up on either side of the entrance and two of the Brigade with bowed heads and leaning on reversed rifles, stood by the memorial, covered with the Union Jack.

The service, which was very impressive, was conducted by the Rev. Canon Broughton (vicar) and opened with the hymn, “Stand up for Jesus.” Then followed prayers and collects. Psalm 130, and a lesson read by the Rev. J. C. Wallace, after which the clergy and choir proceeded to the memorial, led by the churchwardens, Messrs. W. E. Canner and J. W. Fletcher.

In unveiling the tablet, Colonel Martin said “To the glory of God and in imperishable memory of the men of this parish who fell in the great war 1914 – 1918, I unveil this tablet, which has been erected by their fellow parishioners in grateful recognition of their self-sacrifice.”

The “Last Post” having been sounded by buglers of the Church Lads’ Brigade, the choir and clergy returned to their places and Colonel Martin gave an address from the chancel steps.

He spoke of the memorable days in August 1914, when the principles on which our national life is based were being assailed, and it was the part of every true man to stand in defence of them. They had tangible proof that the spirit which was then evoked in the nation was the same spirit as that shown by their forefathers who went out to fight country’s enemies. He would never forget the day about the end of August, 1914, when the North Midland Territorial Division, which had been mobilised about three weeks, was told to fill up its ranks for service abroad. It fell to him, among others, to come back into Leicestershire to try and explain to the people what they were up against, and he remembered what a splendid response they gave. In the North Midland Division, between 80 and 90 per cent of the men said they were prepared to go anywhere, though many of them were married men who had never experienced Army service before. Many things have happened since – much self-seeking, a desire to get rich quickly, many apparent inequalities of justice and self-sacrifice – but he was sure they could all take comfort from the fact that there was tangible proof given in those days that the nation was sound at heart and could be trusted to do the right thing when the crisis really arose. And what happened when the armies got overseas and began their real work? He ventured to say that no one had the privilege of serving in a better battalion. The men from that district – Coalville men they always called them – were a splendid lot of men filled with genuine enthusiasm for fitting themselves for the part which they had to play, and who on getting across the water, proved themselves as good as the best. He went on to speak of evidences of practical Christianity displayed by the men, and of deeds of heroism which came to his notice. One instance he recalled was when they were between Hill 60 and Ypres. When the Brigadier realised that he had in the ranks men accustomed to mining, he formed a number of Coalville men into a mining section, whose duty it was to construct projecting galleries in front of the trenches, to find out if the Germans were under-mining. One day a member of the party came across a German mine filled with German explosives in large quantities, and it would have been a very natural thing for him to want to get away from it as soon as possible, but instead of that, he crawled over the top and disconnected the mine and came back and reported it to his commanding officer. This man, whose name was Starbuck, had no thought for his own safety, but first took steps to safeguard his comrades.

Proceeding, Col. Martin said his services came to an end in October, 1915, but he had always felt ever since then that the war had been worth while, if for nothing else than for the fine spirit it brought out, and if the same spirit could be shown in regard to present day problems, it would go a long way towards reaching a solution. He was not one of those who said this country ought to have stood aside and have taken advantage of the trade while other countries were fighting. The people, who said that, he thought, were wrong. He thought that what the people of this country did when they found what they were up against should be an example and pattern to them now. If the war had done nothing else, with all the misery, self-sacrifice and sorrow, he believed they were worth while because they afforded the opportunity which was taken by so many of showing a truly Christian spirit. He believed that experience had not been lost, but would help them to get through present day difficulties with credit to themselves.

The closing hymn was 11, “For all the saints,” and a collection was taken for St. Dunstan’s Hostel for Blind Soldiers and Sailors. As the congregation were leaving the church, Mr F. Baxter (organist) played, “O, rest in the Lord.” Before and after the service, peals were rung with the bells half-muffled.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 19/10/2017

Leicestershire Project Findings
  • Conflict - World War I
  • Cause of death - Died In Hospital
  • Place of death - Dover Hospital
  • Burial Place - L H 6, Dover (st. James's) Cemetery
  • Other Memorials - Coalville War Memorial Clock Tower
Research from Michael Doyle's Their Name Liveth For Evermore
  • Unit - Training Reserve
  • Cause of death - DIED
  • Burial Commemoration - St. James' Cem., Dover, Kent, England
  • Born - Godalming, Surrey
  • Memorial - CLOCK TOWER MEM., COALVILLE, LEICS
  • Memorial - ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH, HUGGLESCOTE, LEICS
  • Memorial - COUNCIL OFFICE MEM., COALVILLE, LEICS

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